DISCLAIMER:Unfortunately, I do not own My-HiME, Sunrise does. If I did, I would find creative ways to kill the male characters in each episode.
A/N: Sorry, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to pound Takeda in the last chapter. Here's the ShizNat chapter ManiazAzn gave me to write, enjoy.
The Power of Goodbye
The next morning, Chie woke to the sound of someone pounding on the front door. She groggily made her way to the door and opened it.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO TAKEDA?" Natsuki yelled.
Chie was in no mood for this. Both her hands throbbed with pain and she had a headache.
"I taught him a lesson," Chie said through clenched teeth as she tried to control her anger.
"You beat him to a bloody pulp!" Natsuki yelled.
"Kuga-san, please stop yelling and come in," Chie said.
Natsuki stomped into Chie's residence and stood defensively with her arms crossed.
"Chie, who's…," Aoi asked sleepily as she entered the living area.
"It's just Kuga-san," Chie answered as Aoi wrapped her arms around the tomboy.
Natsuki saw the bruise on Aoi's cheek and the frightened look in her eyes. Chie motioned for Natsuki to sit as she led Aoi to the couch. As the tomboy held her girlfriend tightly, she told Natsuki what took place at Takeda's last night.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you both," Natsuki apologized sheepishly and left.
As Natsuki walked back to her residence, she fought the urge to find Takeda and pound him into the ground herself.
"BAKA! He's lucky Harada-san didn't put him in a coma," Natsuki said to herself.
As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to the day before.
After Chie left, Mai attempted to help Natsuki sort out her feelings for Shizuru without much success. Just before dinner, Mikoto returned home from her outing with Nao. Since Natsuki was no closer to resolving her feelings, Mai asked her friend to join them for dinner.
Mikoto glared at Natsuki across the small table she and Mai used for dining. Natsuki was obviously uncomfortable around Mai's feral girlfriend.
"You're a baka," Mikoto blurted out.
"You belong on a leash," Natsuki responded.
Mikoto tilted her head and stared at Natsuki.
"Mai! Come do something about your pet!" Natsuki yelled.
"Mikoto, leave Natsuki alone. You know she gets cranky when you stare at her," Mai called out from the kitchen.
"Why not tell Fujino you love her?" Mikoto continued.
"WHAT! I do NOT love Shizuru! Well, not that way!" Natsuki yelled.
"I love Mai that way," Mikoto smiled.
"And I love you that way," Mai said as she entered the room, carrying a tray with dinner on it.
"MAI!" Mikoto jumped up excitedly, but quickly calmed down when she saw the tray.
Mikoto remembered the last time she hugged Mai with a tray in her hands. The feral young woman went without dinner and Mai that night.
After dinner, Mikoto sat quietly by Mai's side while the tawny-haired young woman gently stroked the feral young woman's hair and continued helping Natsuki sort through her feelings. The entire process only frustrated Natsuki more than anything else.
"It's late. I'd better get back," Natsuki said as she stretched and yawned.
"I think you should stay here tonight, so you don't say something stupid to Fujino-san," Mai said bluntly.
"I WON'T say anything stupid to Shizuru," Natsuki said defensively.
"And pigs started flying upside down and backwards," Mikoto said with her eyes closed.
"Mai, I think your pet has been hanging around Nao too much," Natsuki growled.
"Natsuki, I think you should stay here," Mai said and joked, "Sleeping in Mikoto's bed helped Aoi sort out her feelings about Chie."
Natsuki reluctantly spent the night in Mikoto's bed.
As Natsuki entered her front door, she was lost deep in thought.
"Where have you been?" Shizuru asked from the couch, scaring Natsuki back to the present.
"A-A-A-H-H-H! SHIZURU!" Natsuki yelled in fright.
"Natsuki, where have you been all this time?" Shizuru said, trying not to sound too worried.
"I spent the night at Mai's and stopped by Harada-san's on the way back," Natsuki answered.
"Why did you stop by Chie's?" Shizuru asked.
Hearing Shizuru use Chie's name so informally caused Natsuki to unconsciously wince.
"She nearly beat Takeda to death yesterday and…," Natsuki began, but stopped abruptly when she saw Shizuru's face change drastically.
Natsuki instinctively rushed to Shizuru's side on the couch.
"Shizuru? Are you okay? Don't worry, she didn't kill him, but he's not going to be trying anything funny with any more young girls anytime soon," Natsuki said trying to reassure Shizuru.
"Who? What happened?" Shizuru asked through her shock.
"According to Harada-san, Senoh-san went to that baka's place looking for me, but found Takeda drunk. I know how he gets when he drinks. One time, I had to hit him with a lamp to get him off of me," Natsuki said.
Shizuru felt sick to her stomach and her face blanched.
"Shizuru? Are you okay? You don't look too good," Natsuki said concerned.
"Natsuki, I am fine. Please continue," Shizuru said, reassuring her friend by placing her hand on Natsuki's shoulder.
"After Harada-san left me at Mai's, she found Senoh-san gone when she got home. A text message on Harada-san's mobile phone sent her rushing over to Takeda's, where she found that baka trying to have his way with Senoh-san," Natsuki concluded.
"Did Chie tell you who sent the text message?" Shizuru asked.
"No, but whoever did, saved Senoh-san," Natsuki smiled.
Natsuki looked at Shizuru, who was looking down.
"Shizuru?" Natsuki asked softly.
"Hai?" Shizuru answered and looked at Natsuki.
A surge of warmth ran through Natsuki's body when she looked in Shizuru's eyes and it set the younger woman spinning out of her comfortable orbit once again.
'What the hell is wrong with me? Shizuru is SO beautiful. WHY can't I return her feelings? She loves ME and ONLY me. Well, that's what everyone keeps telling me. Do I love her that way? Oh hell, yes I do. I DO love her, but she scares me. No, SHE doesn't scare me. It's her feelings for me that scare me. They terrify me! What if I can't return her feelings as strongly? I'll end up hurting her more. What if I CAN return her feelings as strongly and she stops loving me? I'll end up devastated. Why the hell isn't this easy?' Natsuki was lost in her thoughts.
"Nat-su-ki?" Shizuru asked tentatively, not sure why Natsuki looked the way she did.
"Huh? Oh, Shizuru. Sorry, I was thinking about something," Natsuki said.
"Me?" Shizuru teased lightly, attempting to gauge Natsuki's mood.
"Uh…yeah," Natsuki said.
Natsuki's blunt answer sent Shizuru reeling, but she recovered before the younger woman noticed.
"What about me is Natsuki thinking?" Shizuru teased.
"Shi-zu-ru," Natsuki whined at the teasing.
"Kannin na, but Natsuki is just so cute I cannot help myself," Shizuru said.
"Shizuru, do you still love me?" Natsuki blurted out.
"Ano?" Shizuru said as she attempted to recover from yet another shock from Natsuki.
"Do you still love me?" Natsuki repeated her question slower.
Shizuru remained silent as she thought about Natsuki's question. It felt like a lifetime of agony for Natsuki as she waited for Shizuru to speak. After several minutes, the Kyoto beauty spoke.
"For so many years, I loved Natsuki. Through everything, I loved Natsuki. After having my heart ripped to shreds, I loved Natsuki. I never doubted or questioned I loved Natsuki. I love my Natsuki and always will," Shizuru said.
Natsuki was reeling from hearing how she ripped Shizuru's heart to shreds, so she was unable to respond for a bit.
"Shizuru, I know I hurt you and I'm REALLY sorry. Hell, I know I devastated you by going out with that idiot Takeda and made matters worse by trying to fix you up with Reito. I just didn't know how to deal with my feelings," Natsuki croaked out.
"Natsuki," Shizuru said in a comforting tone and touched Natsuki's shoulder.
"Shizuru!" Natsuki cried out, suddenly grabbing the brunette and wrapping her arms tightly around Shizuru's waist.
"Natsuki," Shizuru said surprised by the young woman's actions.
Shizuru was stunned, so it took her a minute to wrap her arms around Natsuki.
"Shizuru, I DO love you and in that way!" Natsuki said through her tears.
Natsuki's confession left Shizuru speechless.
"I ran from it…and you…for so long. I'm tired of running, but after what my mom did to me, I don't know if I can trust another woman. I don't know if I can really let another woman in my heart," Natsuki said softly.
Shizuru squeezed Natsuki, silently letting the younger woman know she understood. Natsuki tightened her arms around Shizuru's waist.
"Shizuru…," Natsuki gently pushed herself away from Shizuru and looked the Kyoto beauty in the eyes. "I love you and want to try loving you, but I can't guarantee I will be successful or your life with me will be easy."
Natsuki took a deep breath.
"However, I want to try…IF you want to too."
Shizuru looked deep in Natsuki's green eyes, searching for a sign. For the first time, she found what she had been searching for all these years and tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Shizuru! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. Please don't cry. I understand, really I do," Natsuki said panicked.
"Ara, my Natsuki needs to calm down," Shizuru said calmly.
"I completely understand if you don't want…," Natsuki rambled.
Shizuru grabbed Natsuki and hugged the young woman tightly. After a few minutes, Shizuru released Natsuki and held the young woman at arm's length. She looked deep in Natsuki's eyes, cupped the biker's cheeks with both hands, and firmly kissed her on the lips.
Natsuki's eyes widened with shock. After Shizuru broke the kiss, she smiled at Natsuki's shocked face.
"Silly baka," Shizuru giggled.